Lafayette County Gets Slice of $18M Pie to Fix Federal, State Roads

September 10, 2019

Lafayette County is one of several Mississippi counties that will receive a portion of $18 million from the U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration for extensive highway repairs due to flooding events in 2018 and 2019.

However, it wasn’t clear exactly how much Lafayette County will receive.

Lafayette County Emergency Management Director Steve Quarles said the funds from the FHA are likely for federal aid and state roads that were damaged; however, he is working with FEMA and local officials to hopes to get state funds for some county roads that were also damaged.

“The amount that the county has submitted for grant consideration is $110,748,” Quarles said.

The funding announced Tuesday is part of an overall emergency relief package totaling $871.2 million to help 39 states, as well as American Samoa, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands make repairs to roads and bridges damaged by storms, floods and other unexpected events.

In December 2018, Mississippi experienced extensive flooding. The significant amount of rainfall flooded many roadways, causing damage throughout the state – including in the following counties – Clarke, Covington, Forrest, Jasper, Jones, Lauderdale, Perry and Wayne.